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One of most popular Indian festivals, Navratri (literally meaning ‘nine nights’) is celebrated every year in the autumn with much fanfare in different parts of the country, and even around the world by the Hindu community.Theoretically, there are four seasonal Navaratri. However, in practice, it is the post-monsoon autumn festival called Sharada Navaratri that is the most observed in the honor of the divine feminine Devi (Durga). The festival is celebrated in the bright half of the Hindu calendar month Ashvin, which typically falls in the Gregorian months of September and October.This year Sharada Navaratri puja will be performed between October 17, 2020 to 25, 2020.
Technically, it is observed for nine nights and 10 days, during which, the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped. Each day of Navaratri is dedicated to an incarnation of Durga. Maa Durga is known as the universal protector and wards off evil spirits and demons from one’s life. Navratri is celebrated 5 times a year as per Hindu traditions. People hail and carry our Durga puja and wish for great life, compassion, wisdom and prosperity. The nine incarnations of Maa Durga are as follows:
1. Maa Shailputri
2. Maa Brahmacharini
3. Maa Chandraghata
4. Maa Kushmanda
5. Maa Skand Mata
6. Maa Katyayani
7. Maa Kaalratri
8. Maa Mahagauri
9. Maa Siddhidatri
Dates And Celebrations:
According to some Hindu texts such as the Shakta and Vaishnava Puranas, Navaratri theoretically falls twice or four times a year. Of these, the Sharada Navaratri near autumn equinox (September–October) is the most celebrated and the Vasanta Navaratri near spring equinox (March–April) is the next most significant to the culture of the Indian subcontinent.
Sharada Navaratri: the most celebrated of the four Navaratri, named after Sharada which means autumn. It is observed the lunar month of Ashvin (post-monsoon, September–October).
Vasanta Navaratri: the second most celebrated, named after vasanta which means spring. It is observed the lunar month of Chaitra (post-winter, March–April).
The other two Navratris are observed regionally or by individuals:
- Magha Navaratri: in Magha (January–February), winter season. The fifth day of this festival is often independently observed as Vasant Panchami or Basant Panchami .
- Ashada Navaratri: in Ashadha (June–July), the start of the monsoon season.
How is Navratri Celebrated?
In India, Navratri is celebrated with zeal and enthusiasm. It occurs in the month of Ashvin as per Hindu Calendar. The idol of Maa Durga is worshipped for nine days straight in different forms and on the tenth day, it is immersed in water. People wish for a good life, healthy mind and body, and pray for spiritual, emotional and physical well-being. The puja rituals are observed for nine days straight, with each day signifying the importance of one avatar or incarnation of Goddess Durga.
Here described is the importance of First day -
(Day 1) Maa Shailputri : The first day is observed to celebrate Goddess Shaiputri, who is the first avatar of Nava Durga. Goddess Shailputri, an incarnation of Maa Parvati, is worshipped on this day. In this form, she can be seen sitting on Nandi the bull with a Trishul in her right hand and Lotus flower in her left one. Color of the day remains Red, which represents courage, vigor and action.
Puja Ingredients for Navratri Puja
● A picture or idol of Goddess Durga in the temple altar
● Chunri or a red coloured dyed cloth
● Fresh mango leaves
● Rice
● Durga Saptashati book
● A red thread called Moli
● Gangajal
● Sandalwood
● Coconut
● Red sacred powder or Moli
● Barley seeds
● A clay pot to sow barley seeds
● Gulal
● Supari or Areca nut
● Pan or Betel Leaves
● Cloves or Laung
● Cardamom or Elaichi
Navratri Puja Vidhi
● Wake up early in the morning, take a bath and wear clean clothes.
● Get all the ingredients mentioned above.
● Arrange a thali for puja with all ingredients in it.
● Place the idol or picture of Goddess Durga on a red-colored cloth.
● Place the claypot, sow the barley seeds and sprinkle some water everyday till Navami.
● In an auspicious muhurat, carry out the process of urn installation or Ghatasthapana. Fill the urn with Gangajal, and place mango leaves on the top of its mouth. Wrap the neck of the urn with sacred red thread or Moli, and coconut with red chunri. Place the coconut on the top of mango leaves. Place the urn near or on the claypot.
● Carry out panchopchar puja of the deities, which includes worshipping with flowers, camphor, incense sticks, scent and cooked dishes.
● Chant Maa Durga Mantras throughout these nine days and ask for prosperity. Invite her into your house and ask her to grace your house with her presence.
● On the eighth and ninth day, carry out the same puja and invite nine girls at your house. These nine girls represents nine forms of Goddess Durga. Hence, wash their feet, offer them a clean and comfortable seat. Worship them, apply tilak on their forehead and serve them delicious food.
● On the last day after Durga puja, carry out Ghat Visarjan. Say your prayers, offer flowers and rice to the deities and remove the Ghata from the altar.
Prayers:
Mantra of Mata Shailaputri:
"Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah॥"
Prayer of Mata Shailaputri:
Mythological Story Behind This Avatar
Devi Shailputri is also known as Bhavani, Parvati or Hemavati and has a beautiful, earthly essence among all. In her previous birth,Devi Shailputri was known as Sati and was the wife of Lord Shiva. In her second reincarnation, she took birth as the daughter of Lord Himalaya and was thus named Shailputri, the daughter of mountains. She has a golden complexion on her forehead along with a crescent.
According to Hindu scriptures, the Moon is governed by Goddess Shailputri and she is responsible for obliterating any evil spirit of effect on the Moon. Similarly, if others worship her, they can get rid of any evil powers around them. Goddess Shailputri’s abode is in the Muladhara Chakra and she is the symbol of earthly existence.
Getting her name as Mata Shailputri has a story behind it. This was the time when Devi Parvati was still in her teens. Once She was playing with her friends in the grasslands near the Himalayan mountains, which was her home. Grasslands were for grazing cattles and near to flowed a big river, namely Varuna River with lotus flower on its edge.
Mata Parvati was playing a game like hide seek in the woods nearby. It was her turn to seek her friends in the wood. While she was seeking her friends she came across the shore of the river full of lotus flowers. It was so mesmerizing for her, she wanted a flower from the river. She was about to pick one from it, when suddenly a cow came mooing to her from the grasslands as if she was in great pain and wanted a help from Devi Parvati. The cow took Devi Parvati to the nearby grasslands . What Devi Parvati saw was horrible at first sight.
She saw the skeletons of many cows as if the flesh was freshly eaten by someone. The picture in front of Devi Parvati was almost impossible to understand so she kept her hand on the cows head and closed her eyes. Then she got to know about the demoness Tarika (Sister of terrific demon Tarkasur). Tarika was sent to the earth by Tarkasur itself to kill the new form of Devi Adishakti, Devi Parvati. Devi Parvati was threat to Tarkasur as her and Lord Mahadev's son was threat for his life.
After Tarika, being sent to Earth to kill Devi Paravti, she saw these cows grazing on the open grasslands and cowherd with them. She found this as delicious treat. So, she secretly she started attacking one cow at a time. After a while, when cowherd got a look on the cows the number was depreciating. So, he decided to find the cause and asked the person who was taking the cows. Suddenly Tarika occurs in the terrific form, with red blood all over her face.
So he came to know that this non other than a demoness who is killing all of his cows. So he decided to attack, the cowherd approached Tarika, but she killed the cowherd and started eating rest of the cows and cowherd. One of the cows away for help and came across the shore of River Varuna and found Devi Parvati.
After getting to know about the all over situation Devi Parvati decided to fight against the demoness Tarika. For the fight she took an unusual track. She took a form Shail as like her father Lord Himavan. The cow hid behind the structure and started mooing. The cow's mooing attracted the evil demoness Tarika towards her. Tarika arrived there and saw the Shail and the cow behind it. Tarika tried to fetch the cow but it wasn't possible as the Shail would move from one side to another. Tarika was trying hard to fetch the cow but was unable to.
It was almost evening and about to get dark, where Lord Himavan and Parvati's both friends arrived at the Grassland. They saw the conflict going on over there between the cow, Shail and demon Tarika but Parvati was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly some villagers also arrived at the location in search of the cowherd and they too saw this conflict. Himavan being the ruler of the region was drastically shocked by watching the demoness in his territory and wanted to wipe her out. Tarika, fed up by the conflict with the Shaila, decided to break the Shaila.
On the other hand Himavan raised sword to kill Tarika and Tarika raised the sword on the Shaila. Suddenly the Shaila burst and everyone stayed still. As the Shail started bursting, slowly golden rays emerged out of the Shail and Devi Paravati came out in her true form with a golden crown on her head and Trishul in the hand. Everyone who saw this scene were mesmerized. The cow was still in her position behind Devi Paravati. Himavan took a step back but Tarika was furious. Again she was about to attack Devi Parvati. Devi Parvati lifted the Trishul and threw on Tarika. Tarika was hence defeated and killed. Himavan, Parvati's both friends and the villagers started praising Devi Parvati.After this incidence Himavan named Devi Parvati as Mata Shailputri.The village where all this happened is now said to be located in Jalalipura in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. There is a Mata Shailputri Temple also in the village.
The benefits of Navratri puja:
- Navratri puja is believed to bring prosperity and wealth to the household.
- Maa Durga blesses the family with health, wealth, wisedom and success.
Hope you like this article and gain major insight about the festival of Navratri.
Thank you
happy navaratri
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